Westhoff: "We gave them the game"

Monday November 2, 2009 5:55 PM By Roderick Boone

Mike Westhoff knows yesterday's painful 30-25 loss was on his unit.

The Jets' longtime special teams coordinator was extremely bothered by Ted Ginn's two lengthy kickoff returns for touchdowns, just as you would expect. Although it obviously can't be done, take away Ginn's 100- and 101-yard returns and it's a totally different game.

That's what angered Westhoff most. 

"We gave them the game in my opinion," Westhoff said this afternoon during our availability with him, in response to a query I posed about the feelings he had as he left the Meadowlands last night. "That was the difference. That made the difference in the game, those two plays. If they don't get those plays, they aren’t going to win the game."

Westhoff then proceeded to use me as a prop, walking from behind the podium to the edge of the platform and directly in front of my first-row seat in the interview room. He was re-enacting Ginn's 101-yard kickoff return when LBs Larry Izzo and Ryan Fowler whiffed on tackle attempts.

"From me to you," Westhoff said. "What do you want me to do? Fifteen yard line, make the tackle. The other one, if we set the edge, he can’t get to the 20. Now if we would’ve had him on the 18 and the 15, I’d probably be pretty happy today. We didn’t. I’m not."

So what about Izzo, who's supposed to be a factor on special teams, simply not getting Ginn down despite having Ginn lined up in his sights in a six-yard area?

"He was right on him," Westhoff said. "He should make that tackle. He’ll make that tackle. He just didn’t make it. Guy bounced back, [was] slippery and bounced away. He got away from him.

Then he added: "Fowler got pushed in the back."

There was never really any consideration -- well, not until much later in the fourth quarter anyway -- to kick away from Ginn after his first TD, which came on the kickoff following Jay Feely's 55-yard field goal that gave the Jets a 6-3 advantage with 10:29 left in the third quarter. 

"No, absolutely not," Westhoff said. "I think we are in the top three coverage teams in the NFL and we have the second best starting field position in the league. Absolutely not, we knew exactly what they were going to do. I mentioned last week they were going to give him a chance and he’s very versatile. ... We were very much prepared. They ran exactly what we thought."

Just bad execution, huh?

"First one, Jay got it started," Westhoff said. "He really didn't hit a good kick. He didn’t. He’s done a great job kicking off. He places it and he gets good hang time. He drove this one and he kind of hooked it. And it went away from where we were trying to get it and it gave the guy an advantage to get him started. And we then didn’t set an edge. All we have to do is set an edge and make him bounce it and we didn’t make him do that."

WR Wallace Wright, one of the Jets' top special teamers, was so distraught by what transpired on those kickoff returns that he needed to make a special trip out here to The Hangar -- last night.

"After the game was over, I came over here and watched it to see if I could see what happened and what was going on because I wouldn't have been able to sleep without it," Wright told me. "I came over here this morning and watched it with [Westhoff]. It’s just unacceptable, especially the second one. Guys had him. He wasn’t even expecting to run it back. Basically, he was ready to fall down on the ground.

"If you watched the tape, he wanted to go down. He didn't want to get hit, but we just didn't make the play, bottom line."

Perhaps the Jets got caught without some of their best special teamers active. CBs Ahmad "Batman" Carroll and Marquice Cole, and LB Marques Murrell have each excelled in special team play this season and none were active. It came down to the usual numbers game, and they weren't completely sure that LB Bart Scott's knee was going to hold up and decided to make sure they had enough reinforcements with Fowler and undrafted free agent Jamaal Westerman.

"[It's] the toughest thing we face each week," Westhoff said. " You can’t get them all, so usually we’ll make a decision between Cole and maybe Batman, possibly Drew [Coleman]. Those guys are similar roles, whoever is the hottest is going to be active. Cole has come to life, so we try to get him. Murrell, I like a great deal in coverage because he’s so fast.

"But with Bart being banged up, we had some additional concerns with the inside linebacker spot, so we protected that a little bit. I understand it. Trust me, I don’t like it. I understand it, though."

Shouldn't be long before Westhoff gets over this one, right?

"It's frustrating for me," he said. "So it's one of those things that leaves a bitter taste. It'll go away from me -- when they're lowering me in the grave."

Today's inactives

Sunday October 18, 2009 3:14 PM By Roderick Boone

Here are your inactives for the big tilt with the Bills here at the Meadowlands this afternoon.

WRs Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith, CBs Donald Strickland and Marquice Cole, LB Ryan Fowler, OL Matt Slauson and QB Kevin O'Connell won't be suiting up. Erik Ainge serves as the third QB.

So yes, that means newly-minted WR Danny Woodhead is active and could see time as a slot receiver. This game is good as any to experiement, right? We are talking the Bills here.

Woodhead has been selected as one of the Jets' five captains, joining C Nick Mangold, WR David Clowney, CB Darrelle Revis and S Jim Leonhard.

As for the Bills, their inactives include WR Roscoe Parrish, who's a bit of a surprise since he was listed as probable with a thigh injury. DBs Ellis Lankster and Todd Johnson, S Bryan Scott, RB Xavier Oman, T Jonathan Scott, and DE Chris Ellis are also inactive. Gibran Hamden is the third QB.

We'll have Stephen Haynes live blogging the game, so join him to discuss things as they happen in real time.

Today's inactives

Sunday October 4, 2009 3:21 PM By Roderick Boone

Not any surprises on the inactive list.

They are: QB Kevin O'Connell, CB Lito Sheppard, CB Donald Strickland, LB Ryan Fowler, OL Matt Slauson, DL Ropati Pitoitua, and DL Howard Green.

Eric Ainge is the third QB.

For the Saints, WR Rod Harper, RB Mike Bell, CB Malcolm Jenkins, LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar, DT Kendrick Clancy, T Jermon Bushrod, and TE Darnell Dinkins are out

Chase Daniel is the third QB.

Crazy, playoff-type atmosphere here. Should be an exciting game. Enjoy it and hang around for our live game blog as always.

Jets not overlooking Titans

Wednesday September 23, 2009 4:40 PM By Roderick Boone

Greetings from The Hangar.

It was back to work for the Jets today as they come off their high from Sunday's big 16-9 win over the Pats. It's time to start preparing for an 0-2 Titans team that's coming off that 34-31 shootout loss to the Texans, the very squad the Jets trounced in the season opener.

We've already addressed the overconfidence factor in our story Tuesday, so no need to go there really. But that was the theme behind some of the questions Rex Ryan was asked today in his press conference with us.

Ryan almost seemed bothered when someone asked the proverbial trap game question.

"I don't know why this would be a trap game," he said. "This is just our next opponent. We know they're an outstanding football team. If they beat us, it has nothing to do with it being a trap game or us not putting forth the effort. We're going to give everything we've got this week. If they're going to beat us, they're going to have to earn it."

Well, what about that Titans' secondary, Rex? Isn't it vulnerable since they've allowed 678 yards through their first two games? You guys can torch them through the air, right?

Doesn't always work that way as we know because things change from week-to-week in the NFL. The Titans still have some good personnel and Rex knows that. They are the second-ranked team against the run after all, surrendering 49.5 yards per game.

"That's the dreaded combo platter," Ryan said. "Maybe they're No. 1 (really No. 2) against the run, but 32nd against the pass. They're playing an excellent run defense and if you can't run the ball, then you've got to throw it. Sometimes if a team throws it 60 times on you or 50 times, they're going to get yardage. Clearly they had some mistakes in the secondary. ... I'm sure they're going to be trying to get everything fixed. Hopefully, they make mistakes against us. We'll see. We're not anticipating that, though."

*******************************************************************

WIth regards to the injury situation, as I Tweeted earlier, CBs Lito Sheppard (quad) and Donald Strickland (right ankle) were riding the stationary bikes and working out on the side during the 40 minutes of practice we were allowed to witness.

Ryan said neither participated in practice and he's not 100 percent convinced if both will be available Sunday, thus the reason CB Marquice Cole was signed from the practice squad and TE Matthew Mulligan was waived.

I spoke with Strickland, whom I wrote about in today's paper, to inquire how he was feeling after two days of treatment.

"Each day it's getting better," Strickland told me, adding that he's 'hopeful.' "So I'm very optimistic for Sunday, the way it's going. If it keeps getting better each day then I'll be out there."

Strickland said he got twisted up in a pile when he was coming in on a blitz and his foot got stuck in the turf. The receiver kept pushing him and his foot got trapped in between someone else's foot and just got rolled up.

OL Matt Slauson, this year's sixth-round pick, was limited in practice. Others listed on the injury report who practiced fully: QB Kellen Clemens (right elbow), DL Kris Jenkins (back), S Jim Leonhard (knee), CB Dwight Lowery (ankle), C Nick Mangold (toes), DL Sione Pouha (ankle), LB Bryan Thomas (ankle), LB Jamaal Westerman (quad), T Damien Woody (right shoulder), WR Wallace Wright (hamstring). 

For the Titans, TE Bo Scaife (knee), G Eugene Amano (illness) and LB Stanford Keglar (hamstring) didn't practice.

*******************************************************************

The situation between the two could be awkward, considering they share the same agent in David Dunn and Mark Sanchez was drafted as the future franchise quarterback while Clemens has essentially been forgotten about.

But Clemens has been helping Sanchez with his development and the rookie threw considerable praise Clemens' way today. The biggest compliment of all? Listen to this:

"Kellen is like a big brother," Sanchez said. "The best way to describe Kellen, totally honest, is if I had a sister, I'd want her to her to marry Kellen. I'm totally honest. He's a great guy and when it comes to football, he's totally well-versed in this offense. He knows exactly what I'm thinking out there."

*******************************************************************

Funny scene: Owner Woody Johnson served as the quarterback on a couple of defensive line drills early on in practice. Wearing his business attire (minus the sport coat), the Jets' owner squatted like he was behind center and threw two passes to the lineman.

Someone shouted: "Break it down Wood."

The first pass, well it wasn't very good. But the second was thrown right to LB Ryan Fowler.

"I thought it was really neat that he was able to not only come out there and not only watch, but get involved," said Fowler, a 6-3, 250-pound sixth-year pro out of Duke. "He threw the ball around."

Quipped Ryan: "We're always looking for guys out there and we only have four quarterbacks on the roster. He's got a good arm. We've got to work on that movement outside the pocket, but he has a good arm."

*******************************************************************

Get those throwback Titans jerseys ready. The Jets will wear their blue throwbacks against the, uh, um, Titans Sunday in the first of three occassions they'll be doing so.

The 'real' Titans will have an old school look of their own going on, wearing their old Houston Oilers' garb complete with the oil derricks and all.

*******************************************************************

Let's return to our regular-scheduled programming and head for the Rex Ryan Comedy Hour.

With the game time moved back from the original 4:15 p.m. start because of the Jewish holiday, that means the Jets and Giants will be playing at the same time Sunday. That rarely happens, but both will be going at their respective opponents starting at just after 1 p.m.

Thoughts, Rex?

He said: "Are we playing in the same stadium?"

*******************************************************************

Reminder to follow me here at twitter.com/rodboone.

(Photo: Getty Images)

Today's inactives

Sunday September 20, 2009 12:03 PM By Roderick Boone

Big piece of news breaking here in the press box as we've found out Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker is on the inactive list. Welker was battling a knee injury and his unavailability comes as a bit of a surprise.

But I'm sure the Jets aren't shedding any tears about Welker not playing.

As for the Jets, they're apparently going to be a little thin on the defensive line and at backup quarterback. QB's Kevin O'Connell and Erik Ainge are both inactive, and reserve defensive lineman Mike DeVito, Howard Green and Ropati Pitoitua are inactive.

LB Ryan Fowler, OL Matt Slauson, and TE Matthew Mulligan are also not suiting up.

The rest of the Pats' inactives are WR Matthew Slater, CB Terrance Wheatley, LB Jerod Mayo, OL Rich Ohrnberger, OL Dan Connolly, G Kendall Simmons and TE Michael Matthews.

Enjoy the game. We'll have someone live blogging the game, so you can play along at home.

No debut for Shonn Greene today

Sunday September 13, 2009 12:05 PM By Roderick Boone

The rookie running back is on the inactive list, not dressing for today's season opener here at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Greene had been nursing a case of sore ribs, but has practiced for the bulk of the last two weeks. He pronounced himself ready to go earlier in the week when I spoke with him, so I'm a little surprised that he's not playing today.

Besides Greene, QB Kevin O'Connell, CB Drew Coleman, CB Marquice Cole, LB Ryan Fowler, G Matt Slauson and TE Matthew Mulligan are all out of today's game. Erik Ainge has been designated as the third QB.

DE Marques Douglas will start in Shaun Ellis' spot and DT Sione Pouha starts in Douglas' defensive tackle position.

As for the Texans, S Eugene Wilson, who was hurt on that cheap shot of a block by he who's name has been banned from this blog, is out. CB Jacques Reeves, C Antoine Caldwell, C Chris White, DT DelJuan Robinson, WR Kevin Walter, and TE Anthony Hill are also inactive.

Dan Orlovsky is the third QB. Nick Ferguson starts in Wilson's place at safety.

Lastly, the roof is closed and that's a good thing for the Jets, believe me. It's sweltering outside and it's not even noon yet.

Enjoy the game everyone and remember to follow me on Twitter as I offer a few observations during the game. We'll also have Stephen Haynes live blogging the game right here so join him, won't ya?

Live from The Hangar

Tuesday September 8, 2009 4:52 PM By Roderick Boone

Even though today was a light day and the players were wearing shells and not pads, the Jets conducted their first real practice out here at The Hangar in preparation for Sunday's season opener in Houston.

They pumped in artificial crowd noise roaring from about eight speakers to simulate the atmosphere they'll be facing at Reliant Stadium. They worked on installing the gameplan and going over the base packages the Texans run.

"We're playing for real this week, finally," Rex Ryan said. "That's good. Training camp was outstanding. We got a lot accomplished. Now, we're going to find out where we're at."

Where they're at in the injury department isn't looking so bad at the moment. I had a chance to speak with the two players who've been injured lately to gauge their status for Sunday's game, and both should be available.

Rookie RB Shonn Greene didn't even waver when I asked him if he'd be a go. He's been battling a rib injury and sat out the last two preseason games, although he did practice in full both days last week leading up to Thursday's game vs. the Eagles.

But he's ready and able now.

"Yeah, I'm good," he said. "I'm good."

DE Mike DeVito (hamstring) was limited in the 40 minutes of practice we saw and did mostly individual drills. He's taking it slow just as the training staff wants, but he also has plans of playing. The Jets, of course, need him with DE Shaun Ellis suspended for the opener.

DeVito is expected to start in Ellis' place and couldn't be happier for a number of reasons.

"Shaun is like my older brother," DeVito said. "I appreciate everything he has done for me. He really has taken me under his wing. I’m really grateful to have him as a friend and some one I can turn to to help me get better and grow in this game."

QB Kellen Clemens, by the way, is nursing an elbow injury he suffered in the second half of the preseason game against the Ravens. He practiced today and Ryan said Clemens' elbow is fine and he's still getting treatment.

*******************************************************

Break those Boomer Esiason jerseys out and get a piece of masking tape to put over the former Jets' quarterback's name.

Newly-acquired QB Kevin O'Connell practiced today and was wearing No. 7. There's some thought the Jets simply picked up O'Connell to get information out of him before they play the Patriots in the Sept. 20 home opener at the Meadowlands.

Doesn't make sense, honestly, when you know the Jets gave up a future draft pick for the 2008 third-round selection. It's not like they pulled a Dan Snyder and signed a cut player from a rival a la Andre Woodson -- a guy who couldn't hang on as the Giants' third-string quarterback. Woodson's role is to provide the Redskins with some info from on the Giants, whom they open up with Sunday.

That's it.

O'Connell is someone the Jets will develop and groom to be the future backup behind Mark Sanchez. As for the other stuff about pulling Patriots' secrets out of him ...

"That's good," Ryan said. "Let people think that. That's fine with me."

Then in only a way he can to lighten things up, Ryan quickly shot back later in his response to the question about O'Connell, "Will we pump him for information? Yeah, who am I kidding. If he's got something then, yes, absolutely. If you've got anything to help us, go for it. But that's not why we brought him in here."

*******************************************************

Another roster move for the Jets today. They signed LB Ryan Fowler and waived FB Jason Davis two days after claiming him off waivers.

Fowler, who was released by the Titans over the weekend, has played in 62 career games, starting in 21. He has 119 tackles with two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

*******************************************************

Speaking of roster moves, don't be surprised if RB Danny Woodhead is signed to the practice squad. There's a few indications that could be on the horizon.

*******************************************************

The Jets won't have set captains this season. Rex said he will pick four captains the Friday before each game.

The captains will get a group picture snapped on the field together and they'll get to keep the picture only if the team wins. It's a pride thing, Ryan said, and he got the idea from Ravens coach John Harbaugh.

*******************************************************

Watched a little bit of punting from Steve Weatherford and he looked pretty good. Signed yesterday, he was given the No. 9 that's made the rounds between T.J. Conley and Ken Parrish over the last month or so.

Take these numbers for what they're worth because there wasn't a rush coming at Weatherford. But punting frrom his own goal line, he boomed punts of 60, 50, 50, 60, 50 and 38 yards. He has nice hangtime and his punts just look, like, well NFL punts.

*******************************************************

About that time for the Rex Ryan Comedy Hour, ladies and gents.

Ryan had mentioned earlier during his briefing with us that if he was making up the Jets' schedule, they would have been opening up with a different opponent and the game would be in the Meadowlands. So he was asked who would that opponent be?

"I'll schedule my brother," he said referring to twin Rob Ryan. "Cleveland. You know, 'Ryan challenges Mangini.' I've always been able to whip my brother, so I figure that would be the guy I'd schedule."

*******************************************************

The big announcement that S Kerry Rhodes has been promising on Twitter? Well, you can take a look at it for yourself here.

*******************************************************

We'll have a Live Chat at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow. Be here.

*******************************************************

Now that the season is almost underway, follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/rodboone.